Dear Editor,
As most of you know, my husband, Russell and I were teachers in the State of Illinois public schools and have been retired for 15 years.
On November 4, the citizens of Illinois will have a chance to cast their ballots in the General Election. We will decide whether or not to hold a Constitutional Convention in Illinois. The current Illinois Constitution protects teacher retirement from being reduced regardless of the political climate or fiscal condition of the state. This is subject to change if voters approve holding a Constitutional Convention. It is projected to cost over $80 million to convene the event and could drag on for years. Our current constitution contains a change mechanism allowing for alterations.
Please vote NO to hold a Constitutional Convention. Other groups besides the Teacher Retirement System Board who oppose the convention are labor and business groups, the League of Women Voters, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and the Illinois Retired Teachers Association.
We ask that you pass this information on to your friends and family who live in Illinois. As teachers, we ask that you help us keep our retirement benefits. We pay into the system our whole teaching careers and the progressive and citizen-friendly provisions were too hard fought for to lose now. Please vote NO to the Constituational Convention.
I thank you for your time and consideration of this very important matter.
Sincerely,
Wanda Eastin
Clay County Retired Teachers Association
